1952 AMC 12 Problem 43

Attempt Problem 43 of the 1952 AMC 12 below, then check your answer against the professionally curated solution from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 1952 AMC 12 solutions, or check the answer key.

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43.

The diameter of a circle is divided into nn equal parts. On each part a semicircle is constructed. As nn becomes very large, the sum of the lengths of the arcs of the semicircles approaches a length:

Equal to the semi-circumference of the original circle

Equal to the diameter of the original circle

Greater than the diameter but less than the semi-circumference of the original circle

That is infinite

Greater than the semi-circumference but finite

Answer: A
Concepts:circlearccircumference
Difficulty rating: 1360
Small Hint:

Let the original diameter be dd, so each small semicircle has diameter dn\frac{d}{n}

Big Hint:

Multiply the arc length of one small semicircle by the number nn of parts

Solution:

Each small semicircle has diameter dn,\frac{d}{n}, so its arc length is πd2n.\frac{\pi d}{2n}. The sum of all nn arc lengths is nπd2n=πd2, n\cdot\frac{\pi d}{2n}=\frac{\pi d}{2}, exactly the semi-circumference of the original circle. This equality holds for every positive n,n, not merely in the limit.

Thus, the correct answer is A.

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Problem 43 in Other Years

1950 AMC 12 · 1951 AMC 12 · 1953 AMC 12 · 1954 AMC 12 · 1955 AMC 12 · 1956 AMC 12 · 1957 AMC 12 · 1958 AMC 12 · 1959 AMC 12